Stanchion-opening device.



.NOx/87,718. PATENTBD M3118, 1905.

y E. o. BERGH.

STANGHION OPENING DEVICE. APPLIGATIQN FILED JUNE 2a, 1904.

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` lArromv I Patented April is, 1905.

EDWIN OLAI BERGH, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN.

STANCHION-OP-ENING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 78 7,718, dated April 18, 1905. Application filed .Tune 23, 1904. Serial No. 213,811.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN OLAI BERGH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Beloit, in the county of Rock and State of Visconsin, have invented a new and Improved Stanchion-Opening Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates todevices especially adapted for opening the stanchions of cowstalls.

The purpose of the invention is to provide operating devices of simple, durable, economic, and effective construction whereby one or all of the stanchions may be simultaneously opened, but wherein the stanchions are independently closed.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide means for quickly and automatically throwing a stanchion when unlocked to an open position, the open stanchion at that time being carried out of the influence of its locking device until purposely brought to a closed position, thus preventingthe stall from being accidentally closed before the cowhas left it.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is an outer face view of the device, portions being broken away; and Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

The frame of the front of a series of cowstalls, as shown in the drawings, comprises end standards 10 and intermediate standards 11 at suitable distances apart, an upper longitudinal beam or bar 12, secured to the upper portions of the end and intermediate standards, and two intermediatelongitudinal beams or bars 13 and 14, arranged in parallelism and held spaced a predetermined distance apart, which longitudinal beams are connected to the end standards 10 and to opposite sides of the intermediate standards 11, together with corresponding lower longitudinal bars or beams 15 and 16, similarly secured to the end and intermediate standards.

A shifting bar 17 is longitudinally located and has end movement between the intermediate longitudinal bars or beams 13 and 14 and the upper longitudinal bar or beam 12, being suspended from the latter by links 18, pivotally connected with the said shifting bar and the said upper frame beam or bar 12. The shifting bar 17 is guided in its movement by straps 19, secured to one or more standards of the frame at its inner face, the links 18 being at the outer face of the structure. Guide-loops 2Q are secured to the outer face of the shifting bar 17 midway between the intermediate standards, and pins 21 are passed through the central portions of these loops. Bow-lifting links 22 or their equivalents are passed through the loops 20, the pins 21 passing through the bow portions of the links, and the lower ends of the links 22 or their equivalents are connected,through the medium of eyes 23 or their equivalents, with the inner or free ends of locking-blocks 24, which are adapted to be seated upon the intermediate bars or beams 13 and 14 and are hinged at their.opposite ends to the intermediate standards 11.

The lower ends of stanchions 25 are entered in the space between the lower longitudinal bars or beams 15 and 16 and are pivotally connected with said beams or bars, while the upper ends of the stanchions enter and have free movement in the space between the intermediate bars or beams 13 and 14. The upper ends of the stanchions 25 have a beveled surface 26, the inclination being upwardly from theside edges farthest removed from the locking-blocks 24 in direction of the side edges of the stanchion nearest the locking-block.

A spring 27, preferably an u pwardly-bowed strap-spring, is provided for each stanchion. These springs are located in the space between the intermediate beams or bars 13 and 14, being preferably bowed in an upwarddirection. The said springs are secured at one end, usually to the intermediate standards 11, their free ends having bearing against the upper portion of the stanchions 25 at the lower portion of their beveled faces. These springs are placed under tension When the stanchions are brought to their normal or upright position. When IOO the stanchions are in their normal position, they are so held by the locking-blocks 24, which are then in their lower horizontal and normal position, at which time the free ends of the locking-blocks engage with the longer side edges of the stanchions, as is shown by positive lines in Fig. l.

When the shifting bar 17 is drawn to the right, for example, all of the locking-blocks 24 are raised upward at their free ends, as is shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, releasing the stanchions, whereupon the springs 27 act to force the stanchions to the outer inclined position, (shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1,) thereby permitting the animals to withdraw their heads through the spaces in which their necks were confined-namely, the spaces between the stanchions and the nearest standards 11. rIhe said springs 27 will hold the stanchions in their open position after the locking-blocks are lowered, thus preventing the heads of the animals being accidentally caught between the stanchions and standards.

The stanchions are restored to their normal position by hand, and as the inclined upper ends of the stanchions pass from beneath the locking-blocks above them the locking-blocks fall in position to lock the stanchions. It is obvious that any individual locking-block may be raised to release the stanchion of any particular stall without interfering with the locking connection between the blocks and stanchions of other stalls. This is accomplished by manually lifting the particular lockingblock of the particular stall the stanchion of which is to be opened; but when the shifting bar 17 is operated all of the stalls are simultaneously opened.

A rope, chain, or cable 28 is attached to the right-hand end of the shifting bar 17 and is passed over a pulley 29, located usually at the right-hand end of the frame shown in Fig. 1 and which has been described; but this rope, cable, or chain 28 may be led by suitable guides to any desired place in a barn, and the said shifting bar 17 may be operated by a lever or an equivalent means, iffound desirable.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In stanchion-opening devices, a frame, stanchions pivoted at their lower ends in the frame and having upper beveled surfaces, locking-blocks adapted for engagement with the beveled end portions of the stanchions, springs acting upon the stanchions in opposition to the locking-blocks, a shifting device, and connec tions between the shifting device and the lock: ing-blocks. 4

2. In stanchion-opening devices, a frame, stanchions pivoted at their lower ends in the frame, locking devices hinged at one end to the frame, their free ends being adapted for locking engagement with the stanchions, springs attached to the frame and having tensional bearing against the stanchions in direction of the locking-blocks, a shifting device carried by the frame, and connections between the said locking-blocks and the shifting device.

3. In stanchion-opening devices, a frame, stanchions pivoted at their lower ends in the frame, locking devices hinged at one end to the frame, having their free ends adapted for locking engagement with the stanchions, springs attached to the frame and having tensional bearing against the stanchions in direction of the locking blocks, a shifting bar having swinging connection. with the frame, guideloops secured to the shifting bar, and connecting-loops having guided movement in the loops on the shifting bar, the said connecting-loops having pivotal engagement with the free ends of the locking-blocks, as described.

In testimony whereof I'have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN OLAI BERGH.

Witnesses:

T. E. TOLLEFSRUD, ALICE RossrrnR. 

